Diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achonry

The Diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achonry is a former diocese in the Church of Ireland located in Connacht; the western province of Ireland. It was in the ecclesiastical province of Armagh. Its geographical remit included County Mayo and part of counties Galway and Sligo. Between late 2021 and early 2022, the diocese was amalgamated into the Diocese of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe.

WWW tuam.anglican.org

History

On 13 April 1834, the diocese of Killala and Achonry was united to the Archdiocese of Tuam. On the death of Archbishop Trench of Tuam in 1839, the Province of Tuam was united to the Province of Armagh and the see ceased to be an archbishopric and became a bishopric with Thomas Plunket becoming the first bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry.

Coat of arms

In November 2012, the Chief Herald of Ireland confirmed the following as the arms of the united diocese:

Azure beneath three Gothic arches as many figures or their hands faces and feet proper, in the middle the Blessed Virgin holding upon her left arm the Child their heads circled in glory on her dexter side a bishop pontifically vested his dexter hand raised in benediction the sinister hand holding a crozier bendwise and on her sinister an angel the head circled of the second the dexter arm elevated and beneath the sinister arm a lamb of the third impaled with Gules a pastoral staff or surmounted of an open book proper.

The two coats of arms recorded in the records of Ulster King of Arms for the dioceses of Tuam and Killala are impaled, or placed side to side, on the shield.

Cathedrals

The bishop had two episcopal seats :

St. Crumnathy's Cathedral, Achonry was deconsecrated in 1998 and is now used for ecumenical events.

Parishes

Prior to its amalgamation, the diocese was divided into unions of parishes.
Achonry Union:

St. George's Church, Tubbercurry
Rathbarron Church

Aughaval Group:

Holy Trinity Church, Achill Sound
Christ Church, Castlebar
St. Thomas' Church, Dugort
St. Thomas' Church, Knappagh
Turlough Church
Holy Trinity Church, Westport

Ballisodare Union:

Holy Trinity Church, Ballisodare
St. Paul's Church, Colloney
Ballymote, Emlaghfad

Galway & Kilcummin:

St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church, Galway
Kilcummin Church, Oughterard

Killala Union:

St. John's Church, Ballycastle
St. Mary's Church, Crossmolina
St. Patricks Cathedral, Killala

Kilmoremoy Union:

St. Michael's, Ballina
Killanley Church, Castleconnor
St. Anne's Easkey
Straid Church, Foxford
Kilglass Church

Omey Union:

Christ Church, Clifden
Holy Trinity Church, Errislannan
St. Thomas' Church, Moyard
St. Mary's Church, Roundstone

Skreen Union:

Christ Church, Dromard
St. Mary's Church, Kilmacshalgan
Skreen Church

Tuam Union:

St. John the Baptist's Church, Aasleagh
St. Mary's Church, Cong
St. Mary's Cathedral, Tuam

List of bishops

Archdeacons

Reflecting a history of amalgamations within the diocese, the role of diocesan archdeacon changed over time. Stephen J. McWhirter was Archdeacon for Tuam, Killala and Achonry from 2017. In 2022, McWhirter became incumbent of Rossorry Parish, Enniskillen.